Two prominent individuals in Benin, linked to the country’s president, have been remanded in custody pending trial after their arrest last week on charges of plotting a coup.
Olivier Boko, a businessman and close friend of President Patrice Talon, along with Oswald Homeky, a former sports minister, is accused of attempting to recruit the commander of the president’s security forces to carry out a coup in the West African nation.
According to Elonm Mario Metonou, the special prosecutor for financial crimes and terrorism in Benin, the two men allegedly sought the assistance of Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre, the commander of the Republican Guard, “to carry out a coup by force” last Friday.
Their attorney, Ayodele Ahounou, confirmed on Tuesday that both Boko and Homeky have been placed in pre-trial detention.
“They will be sent to Cotonou prison,” where they will remain while awaiting trial, Ahounou stated.
The court revealed that Homeky was detained around 1:00 AM on September 24 while allegedly handing over six bags of cash totaling 1.5 billion West African CFA francs (approximately $2.5 million) to Tevoedjre.
Boko, often referred to as Talon’s “right-hand man,” was arrested separately in Cotonou.
Boko had recently hinted at a potential run for the presidency in 2026, after Talon’s second term ends, as he is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election.
In 2023, Homeky resigned as sports minister after advocating for Boko’s bid to succeed Talon.
Tevoedjre was also arrested last week but has since been released with the charges against him dropped.
Boko and Homeky are facing charges of corruption of a public official, money laundering, and conspiracy against the state, according to judicial sources.
Three others have also been charged in connection with the case; one has been remanded in custody, while two have been released.
Benin, once seen as a thriving multi-party democracy, has faced increasing authoritarianism since Talon took power in 2016, according to critics.
Recently, an online critic of the president, Steve Amoussou, was detained and is set to stand trial later this year on charges of publishing falsehoods and “inciting rebellion,” as reported by judicial sources.